Drainage and erosion reduction means

ABSTRACT

Used motor vehicle tires are subjected to a pair of radial severing cuts and thereby a peripheral segment of each tire removed. The tire remainder portions, generally constituting 1/2 to 1/3 of the original tires, are then aligned side by side and connected to form an extended drainage construction which may be utilized in place of conventional larger drains with the effect of ameliorating soil erosion and washaway problems.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an improved drainage construction.

BACKGROUND ART

For most of this century we have been utilizing the pneumatic tire andthen discarding it in the most convenient manner after it has reachedthe end of its useful life. Unfortunately, over the years these tireshave been accumulating on roadsides, in backyards, in bushland andwatercourses, as well as filling up land disposal areas.

In recent years, with the increase of global pollution, the decrease ofavailable landfill sites, as well as the increase in population levelsin the world, we are eventually realizing that we have to dispose of ourwaste products in a manner which will not allow further degradation ofour environment. With this in mind we should also take into account thecost of disposal of waste products and weigh the cost againstenvironmental degradation.

The present invention utilizes used tires in the formation of drainageconstructions.

Drainage constructions have many applications in the environment,including preventing drainage erosion on roadsides, and rural,reforested, natural and developed land. Drains also are important inpreventing the siltation and flooding of land.

Present drainage constructions generally require skilled constructionand maintenance and consequently are often expensive.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved drainageconstruction, utilizing used tires.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The inventor has developed a method of utilizing used tires in adrainage construction.

Thus according to one embodiment of the invention there is provided, adrainage construction comprising:

a plurality of elements connected to form an elongate channel, byconnecting means,

each of said elements comprising a curved sector of a tire, wherein theside wall of each tire sector abuts the side wall of an adjacent sector,

such that the inner circular section surfaces of adjacent tire wallsectors form said channel.

The used tires may be selected from those manufactured for use on anyvehicle such as cars, motor bikes, and trucks, which are generallyobtainable in large quantities.

The circumferential portion of the tire sectors may vary according tothe depth of channel required but will generally represent 1/2 to a 1/3of the circumference of the tire, or alternatively the total tire can beutilized.

The side walls of the tire sectors may contain apertures adapted toreceive the connecting means.

The lower tread surface of one or more tires of a section of connectedtire portions may also be provided with a hole or holes adapted toreceive one or more pegs for the purpose of anchoring the tire into theground or for the purpose of slowly draining the tire so as to avoidmosquito breeding, etc.

The connecting means may be in the form of one or more elongate joiningmembers adapted, preferably under tension, to bring the side walls ofindividual tire sectors into apposition.

Advantageously the connecting means will comprise parallel rods orcables which pass through the apertures in the side walls of the tiresectors, and are clamped at each end.

Generally two parallel rods or cables will pass through apertures oneither side of the channel and a further rod or cable will pass throughapertures in the side walls in the direction of the channel.

The elongate joining member(s) may be manufactured from any appropriatematerial of sufficient tensile strength and advantageously is(are)constructed of a flexible material such as flexible steel cable,synthetic or natural woven cords or rods.

The clamping means is firmly attached to the elongate member and may beadapted to allow adjustment of the member to alter its tension orposition and to resiliently compress the side walls of the tire in alateral direction creating at least a partial seal therebetween.

The clamping means may consist of any suitable means capable of fixingthe joining member in place, such as a washer or end plate, and a nut,wherein the end of the rod is threaded to engage the nut.

Alternatively individual tire sectors may be joined together by anysuitable adhesive, by bolts, by staples, or by any other appropriatemeans or a combination of the abovementioned joining means may be used.

The drainage construction according to the invention can be adapted tosuit different terrains by varying the circumferential portion of thetire sectors and/or by varying the height of opposing side walls of thetire sectors relative to each other.

A drainage construction according to the invention has the additionaladvantage that the flow of water or other fluid down the channel will beretarded by the action of the side walls of each tire sector in forminga weir across the channel. Thus the draining water must fill andoverflow each sector before proceeding down the channel, therebylessening the damaging effects of soil erosion and downstream flooding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a tire sector according to the inventionhaving a circumferential portion of 1/2 the circumference of the tire.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a tire sector having an alternativecircumferential portion.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of a tire sector having a further alternativecircumferential portion.

FIG. 4 depicts a plurality of adjoining tire sectors of FIG. 1 forming adrainage channel.

FIG. 5 depicts a plurality of adjoining tire sectors according to FIG.2, forming a drainage channel.

FIG. 6 depicts a cross section of a drainage channel according to theinvention.

BEST MODE AND OTHER MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the operation of the invention an open semi-circular trench 1 is dugby hand or by mechanical means, having a diameter corresponding at leastapproximately to the outside diameter of the tire sectors 2.

The trench may have a sand bed, or may be lined with plastic on itsinner surface to prevent vegetation from growing up and displacing thetire sectors 2.

The tire sectors 2 are then placed in the trench 1 side by side withside walls 3 abutting. The elongate joining members 4 are insertedthrough apertures 5 in each of the side walls 3 of the tire sectors 2and thereby extend generally parallel to the trench 1, on either sideof, and along the channel 6 itself.

At each end 10 of the elongate members 4 there are provided clampingmeans 7 such as a washer 8 and nut 9 which engage a threaded portion ofeach end 10 of the members 4. The clamping means 7 allow longitudinaladjustment of the elongate members 4. The washer 8 is also provided withan aperture and the combination of washer 8 and nut 9 are not able topass through the apertures 5 in the side walls 3 of the tire sectors 2.

Accordingly when the washers 8 and nuts 9 are engaged with the ends 10of each of the three joining members 4, the joining members 4 may belongitudinally adjusted so that the tire sectors 2 can be drawn togetherbetween the washers 8 to prevent separation of adjoining tire sectors 2and thereby form a seal therebetween.

The tread walls 11 of the tire sectors 2 may have a hole 12 adapted toreceive a peg 13, to stably locate the tire sectors 2 in the ground, andprevent twisting or travel thereof.

The peg 13 will have an enlarged head section which is not able to passthrough the hole 12.

The tire sectors 2 may have differing circumferential portions toprovide varying depths of channel 6 to suit the terrain for example flator inclined, depending on whether the drain is intended to extend downor across the incline. For example the sector 2a depicted in FIG. 1 issuitable for flat terrain or extending down hill.

Additionally the heights of the opposing side walls 3 of the tiresectors 2 may vary relative to each other, as shown in the tire sector2b in FIG. 2, which are suitable for a drain extending across theincline. The sector 2c shown in FIG. 3 provides a shallower drain.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The drainage construction according to the invention possesses severaladvantages over existing structures in reducing drainage maintenance andreducing conventional formal drainage costs. It also saves naturalresources such as sand and cement, recycles a waste product which iscreating environmental damage and increases the life of existing andfuture landfill sites.

Furthermore the drainage structure is economical in that it: reduces themachinery and labor required to maintain open drains, etc., reducesexpensive drainage requirements downstream, reduces/or eliminates theneed for sedimentation traps, reduces dredging costs, and increasesstaff available for the purpose of maintaining more valuable assets.

These are a few of the potential advantages which flow from the presentinvention which allows economical use of waste products and isenvironmentally friendly whilst providing a functional drainageconstruction.

I claim:
 1. A drainage construction comprising:a plurality of elementsconnected by connecting means to form an elongate channel through whichliquid can flow from a first area containing the liquid to a drainagearea, each of said elements comprising a curved sector of a tire havingat least one side wall and a rim, wherein the side wall of each tiresector abuts the side wall of an adjacent tire sector, each said tiresector comprising from 1/3 to 1/2 of a tire circumference, said channelbeing defined by the rims of successive adjacent said tire sectors,whereby at least part of a liquid introduced into said channel at saidfirst area will flow through the tire sectors to said drainage area, theside wall of each tire sector comprising side wall means for retardingthe flow of liquid through the tire sectors such that liquid flowingthrough the elongate channel is retarded by the side walls of the tiresectors and liquid passing through the channel from said first area mustfill and overflow each of said plurality of tire sectors beforeproceeding to said drainage area.
 2. A drainage construction as definedin claim 1 wherein each tire sector has a lower tread surface, and thelower tread surface of one or more tires of a plurality of connectedtire sectors is provided with one or more holes adapted for the drivingtherethrough of one or more enclosing pegs.
 3. A drainage constructionas defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises one ormore elongate joining members adapted, under tension, to bring the sidewalls of successive individual tire sectors into juxta position.
 4. Adrainage construction as defined in claim 3 wherein said connectingmeans comprises a pair of substantially parallel rods or cables passingthrough apertures in the side walls of the tire sectors and claimed ateither end of said construction.
 5. A drainage construction as definedin claim 4 further comprising a third rod or cable parallel to said pairof rods or cables, said third rod or cable also passing throughapertures in the side walls of the tire sectors and being clamped ateither end of said construction.
 6. A drainage construction as definedin claim 4 wherein said rods or cables are selected from flexible steelcable, or synthetic or natural cords or rods.
 7. A drainage constructionas defined in claim 5 wherein said rods or cables are selected fromflexible steel cable, or synthetic or natural cords or rods.
 8. Adrainage construction as defined in claim 4 clamped by clamping meansadapted to allow adjustment of the tension in said rods or cables toresiliently compress said tire sector side walls.
 9. A drainageconstruction as defined in claim 4 wherein successive said tire sectorsare joined by one or more of adhesive or bolts or staples.